The New Marvel: 'Uncanny Avengers'

The New Marvel is a series that looks at the changes that the mega-comic empire made following the events of Avengers vs. X-Men and the impact that those changes have on the stories of Marvel NOW! Six issues (or more) into each Marvel NOW! title, we see what our favorite characters are up to and what to keep an eye out for in the future.

Bringing together mutants and humans to spearhead a special superhero team, Captain America creates a “unity” team to help prove that mutants are not a threat to the world. Choosing previous members from both teams, this new group works to help strengthen the binds within the superhero community as well as the planet as a whole, going against Cyclops and his call for revolution against humanity. Choosing Cyclops’ own brother Havok to lead, Captain America gives his full support to the team and takes a backseat to his normal role as leader. And, while this isn’t the first time mutant and human superheros have worked together, this is the first time it has been done in such a public fashion. They’re here, they’re powerhouses, and they’re the Uncanny Avengers.

MINOR SPOILERS BELOW

Covering Issues #1-6

While I don’t have a problem with mutants and humans serving together on what is considered the premiere superhero team in the Marvel universe, I do not like how this is being treated as though it is a huge event for the team and the world in general. Mutants have been serving on the Avengers since (almost) the very beginning, including some very prominent X-Men, so this feels as though it is just an attempt to have another Avengers title in the vast array of Marvel publications. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the Avengers and their many adventures, but sometimes there doesn’t need to be 15 different and simultaneous teams with the same people serving on them. (I’m not sure how Captain America does it without going insane.)

There is also a lot of internal conflict within the team, mutants against humans (and sometimes mutants against mutants), which doesn’t always provide a great mindset for the team as a whole. A really great aspect is that this shows Havok has what it takes to be a real leader when things hit the fan; he doesn’t hesitate to put Captain America in his place when the elder hero tries to take the reins due to having always done so in the past. And, while he may admit to nervousness in front of his fellow X-Men, Havok leads with his gut and acts decisively. I cannot wait to see what more is written about him, and how he develops into being a true hero for humanity and mutantkind.

I do sense that there will be significant encounters for this team, that have rippling effects for both Avengers and X-Men titles throughout the Marvel universe, but I’m actually surprised that this particular team hasn’t been tasked with bringing Cyclops in. If this is supposed to be the forefront of mutant/human cooperation, one would think that a priority would be to take down Cyclops as soon as possible, yet the only mutant interaction they’ve dealt with is with Cable’s X-Force team (as seen in that specific title briefly). Don’t cast off the inevitable confrontation, Marvel. Show us the Summers brothers when they encounter each other and how this can easily turn into a “family thing.”